Taxonomy

Division:

Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants

Family:

Calycanthaceae

Genus:

Calycanthus

Species:

Calycanthus occidentalis

USDA Symbol:

CAOC5

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Growth Habit:

Shrub

Height:

400 cm

Light Requirements:

Full Sun,Part Shade

Drought Tolerance:

Low

Bloom Months:

apr,may,jun,jul,aug

Bloom Colors:

maroon, red-brown

Landscaping Shrub:

Yes

Wildlife Benefits

Caterpillars:

★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)

Host Plant for Caterpillars

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:

birds, small mammals

Deer Resistant:

Yes

Fragrant:

Yes

Fall Color:

yellow

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:

rich, well-drained loamy soil

pH:

5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)

Drainage:

tolerates poor drainage

Moisture:

consistently moist

Notes:

Prefers riparian zones and can tolerate seasonal flooding.

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:

Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days

Germination Time:

30–90 days

Notes:

Seeds benefit from cold-moist stratification. Germination may be erratic and prolonged even with proper treatment.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI